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"Word," Kip said
"Orholarabbed Kip by his collar, and Kip heard the crowd gasp "That’s it! You lose your extra color You know, boy, you have a choice: are you going to be Kip the Lip, the loser who always has the last word, or are you going to be Breaker? I think you’ve made your choice for today Maybe when you coh to choose differently" Trainer Fisk was seething He turned to the crowd Why was he so angry? Why was he so hostile suddenly?
Kip the Lip He’d said Kip the Lip Where--
Andross Guile That would also explain why Trainer Fisk was so angry He wasn’t angry at Kip; he was angry about Kip Andross Guile was forcing Trainer Fisk toTrainer Fisk to betray his oaths It didn’twhat Andross Guile had asked Trainer Fisk to do all too easy The trainer didn’t even look at Kip now, as he announced, "Kip Guile has claimed to be a full-spectruuard for seventy years There are rules We’ve consulted thees, full-spectruet to choose only one color in addition to what their opponent chooses For foul language, Breaker loses that choice The colors for this bout will be green and yellow"
Ironfist’s gaze was like a millstone Kip looked away, and found his father’s Gavin Guile looked disappointed already
Daht into his hands Kip Al, but I gave up I was almost a hero, but I chose cowardice instead I ale I almost saved Isa I almost saved Sanson But I didn’t even alenerous I haven’t aled her I swore I would I took souard to get access to the records in the library, but really, I’ve been happy to forget her Soht have conspired to keep me out of the top fourteen, but could I have really made it on my own? Probably not Would I have s in iven to
"Why little Kip the Lip, are you crying?" Ara to kill you, you motherfucker," Kip said
A backhand cracked across Kip’s jaw, staggering him Trainer Fisk said, "Kip, one et and revoke your chance to try again in sixHe didn’t even spit out the blood in his mouth, lest Trainer Fisk misinterpret it
"Trainer," Arareen"
The trainer nodded and gave the order Then he said, "Hands"
Each boy in turn let his finger be pressed firmly on the hellstone and then took their places, illuhts were shuttered
"And…" Trainer Fisk said Kip started running forward He thought he had the ti just about perfect--"Go!"
Kip was already airborne as the lights ca side kick And ht in line
The boy’s eyes ide and Kip’s foot slammed into his shoulder and chest It launched Aram backward
Kip fell, but popped back up to his feet in a moment Aram had been shot all the way out of the circle He rolled over, coughed, and for one ht he’d knocked the wind out of his opponent If Aram wasn’t able to breathe for five seconds, Kip would win, just like that
"One!" Trainer Fisk shouted, starting the count
Aram jumped back to his feet and rushed back into the circle Kip e, determined to keep him out
"Two!"
Back kick It was fast So fast Kip was lucky to jump backward out of its reach, which also meant he was safe froot into the circle with no probleh, Kip could tell Unless he was faking it to lure Kip into some kind of trap On the other hand, ould he need to lure Kip into a trap? He had his color, speed, strength, and a lot
As Kip -fast pop to Kip’s nose Too fast to stop It wasn’t hard, but it stunned Kip Then Aram was on top of him Kip didn’t see the move that cut his feet out frootten halfway up when Arareen luxin baton across the back
"Coled up to his knees again And grunted as another baton cracked across his back But he didn’t go down
He saw the thought cross Aram’s mind: he could crack that baton across Kip’s head and put hiht leave Kip an idiot, and that would get Arauard forever